How society reacts to people who have made a fresh start after battling addiction can have a huge impact on their chances of long-term recovery.
“People with substance use disorders should be welcomed back into the community, not ostracised. Alienation and stigmatisation lead to loneliness, boredom and, ultimately, relapse. Be present, be there for them, and they will have a greater chance of remaining sober.”
This is the view of Puseletso Lephatswa, SANCA Wedge Gardens’ newly appointed occupational therapist.
“It takes a lot from a person to realise that they need help and that the path they had taken was not good for them. Therefore, we should be proud of these individuals who decided to take a step towards improving their well-being, as it is not an easy choice to make,” she says.
A career built around rehabilitation
Puseletso joined Wedge Gardens on September 1, bringing with her experience in public healthcare, private practice and several rehabilitation settings.
She completed a Bachelor of Science in Occupational Therapy at the University of the Western Cape in 2021. Her career began in 2022 in Carolina, Mpumalanga, where she worked at Carolina Hospital and neighbouring clinics providing public and primary healthcare services.
Working in a small-town healthcare setting taught her resilience and the importance of making the most of available resources. Her work also took her beyond hospital and clinic walls and into local communities, where she advocated for healthcare services and worked to ensure that people in small villages received the care they needed.
In 2023, she moved into private practice, running her own occupational therapy (OT) practice. Later that year, she returned to the hospital environment, specialising in rehabilitation. Since then, she has worked in various rehabilitation settings involving both mental and physical health.
In 2024, she enrolled for a postgraduate diploma in vocational rehabilitation at the University of Pretoria. The qualification strengthened her knowledge of helping people return to work and managing disabilities.
This experience is particularly relevant to her new role at Wedge Gardens, where she hopes to help residents prepare for life after treatment.
Preparing residents for life beyond treatment
She says Wedge Gardens’ holistic approach to treatment fits closely with her own OT values. The treatment programme considers residents as whole people, rather than focusing on one aspect of their lives. This is important because these different aspects of a person’s life can influence the activities they take part in and the choices they make.
“No factor is left behind in the care of the clients, from their physical, emotional and mental to their spiritual well-being,” she says.
“I have a community of young men who need to reintegrate back into the job market and manage their conditions appropriately,” she says. “I plan to establish programmes that will equip them with the required skills and knowledge.”
OT is about much more than treating a specific condition, says Puseletso. She will work with people with substance use disorders to develop healthier lifestyles and improve their overall well-being through meaningful activities that help them rebuild purposeful, fulfilling lives.
“What impressed me the most with the facility is the welcoming and warm nature of all the staff. From the security to the reception and up to the management, everyone is always ready to help,” she says.
She believes this creates the kind of environment needed by the people Wedge Gardens serves.
Beyond the workplace
The opportunity to help people become the best versions of themselves is what drew her to the field.
Originally from Qwaqwa in the Free State, Puseletso is the third of six siblings. She now lives in Germiston with her one-year-old son.
When she is not working, she enjoys completing puzzles, watching family shows with her son, going for walks and visiting farmers’ markets to try different delicacies.
